The Demons took advantage with four unanswered goals to draw within five points early in the last quarter. With Jack Viney instrumental and Max Gawn providing a tall option inside 50, they looked threatening.

Melbourne lifted around the stoppages and the Saints had dropped their pressure to just below fanatical and suddenly it was game on.

However a free kick against Jesse Hogan, which saw him reported for striking Jarryn Geary in a marking contest, a touch of desperation from Jade Gresham and the cool head of Nick Riewoldt led to a goal that broke the run of behinds.

"We didn't have enough really good individual efforts which make up a team performance for us to be competitive for long enough," Roos said.

Saints sharpshooter Tim Membrey maintained his outstanding average of three goals a game this season with three majors in the first half on his way to four for the game, while skipper Riewoldt ran ragged to provide options for teammates.

Most of the game was being played in the Saints' forward half in the second quarter but it took two goals within five minutes from veteran defender Geary just before half-time to give St Kilda the ascendancy.

Emerging Saint Tom Hickey also won the ruck battle with both coaches praising his role after the game.

By contrast Melbourne struggled to clear the ball from its own half despite scoring on the counter-attack throughout the first quarter.

With Angus Brayshaw and the exciting Christian Petracca impressing in their first games together since being picks No.2 and No.3 in the 2014 NAB AFL Draft, and Jayden Hunt showing his usual dash from defence, the Demons showed good signs but could not handle the Saints' pressure.

It was an exciting game with both teams likely to develop into quality line-ups in the future.

MEDICAL ROOMSt Kilda: St Kilda escaped unscathed with the only question for next week being the potential availability of Patrick McCartin, who has missed the past two weeks with concussion. Melbourne: Sam Frost was a late withdrawal due to illness, with Josh Wagner taking his spot. Josh Wagner appeared to hurt his left ankle, while Jesse Hogan received treatment for a knock to the hip. Both played out the game. Jack Watts also had an ankle attended to in the third quarter.

NEXT UPMelbourne heads to Perth to play West Coast. It's a big challenge for the Demons who have not won in Perth since 2004, having lost 16 in succession at Domain Stadium. The Saints face the Western Bulldogs at Etihad Stadium on Saturday night, with the Bulldogs having the ascendancy over the Saints in four of the past five encounters.